Senior Associate Emma Cocker comments in City AM on the future of AI within law firms, arguing that it can be a useful tool, however lawyers and employers must act cautiously as improper use can have serious legal implications. 

Emma’s comments were published in City AM, 15 May 2025, and can be found here.

“AI undoubtedly plays a huge role in the future of legal services. It will make them more accessible and affordable, which is a huge benefit, given that so many people and small businesses struggle to access legal services. It can also speed up output, with the automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks helping lawyers to work more efficiently, which also translates to costs savings for clients.

“However AI must be used with caution. Remember that it should be used as a starting point and that the output is only ever as good as the input, which may be vulnerable to online misinformation. As such, AI content must always be reviewed for accuracy and subject to ultimate approval by a human being. We know that AI ‘hallucinates’ and we have already seen lawyers over relying on AI coming unstuck. As well as the professional embarrassment factor, AI could deskill junior lawyers who may not be practicing legal researching and drafting to the same degree as previous generations of lawyers. It may also contribute to a decline in the development of other key skills, such as critical and independent thinking.

“In authorising the first AI-driven law firm, the Solicitors Regulation Authority made it clear that lawyers relying on AI output will be ultimately responsible for the consequences and that professional standards must always be maintained to ensure public trust and confidence in the sector. Those who do use AI improperly may find themselves facing disciplinary proceedings by their employer and the regulator and in cases of ‘AI gone wrong’ there is scope for negligence claims by clients, as well as costs applications by opponents.”

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